Nigerian Army Denies Reports of Gombe Recruit Death at Zaria Training Facility
The Nigerian Army has issued a strong denial regarding circulating reports that claimed recruit Ibrahim Nazifi from Gombe State died during military training at the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria. This official rebuttal comes directly in response to an earlier announcement made by the Gombe State Government, which had stated that the recruit had passed away while undergoing training.
Official Statement from Army Public Relations
In a detailed statement released on Saturday, Captain Chikadibia Viola Anele, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations at Depot NA Zaria, addressed the matter directly. She confirmed that the Depot's attention had been drawn to widespread reports alleging that Nazifi, an indigene of Gombe State with application number 90RRI-GO-9017726, had died while participating in training exercises.
"We wish to categorically state that this information is false and falls short of the record," Captain Anele stated emphatically. She described the reports as entirely inaccurate and lacking any factual basis according to the institution's official documentation.
Army Clarifies Recruit's Status and Training Records
According to the comprehensive statement from Depot NA Zaria, official military records clearly show that Ibrahim Nazifi successfully passed the state recruitment screening exercise conducted in December 2025. Following this achievement, he was subsequently shortlisted for training at the prestigious Zaria Depot.
However, the Army provided crucial clarification that Nazifi never actually reported to the Zaria facility for the commencement of his scheduled training program. "He never reported to the Depot for commencement of his training, and at no point was he admitted into the training programme. Consequently, the Depot has no record of his presence, participation, injury or death during training," the statement explained in unambiguous terms.
Call for Investigation and Clarification of Circumstances
The Nigerian Army has formally urged the Gombe State Government and other relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to establish the actual circumstances surrounding the reported death. Captain Anele added, "Depot NA Zaria urges the Gombe State Government and relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain where, when and under what circumstances the purported deceased died, as such an incident did not occur within the Depot NA Zaria."
This request highlights the Army's position that the reported incident, if it occurred at all, happened outside their jurisdiction and training environment.
Context of Military Training and Safety Protocols
The Army's statement provided important context about the nature of military training, acknowledging that such programs are inherently demanding by design. These rigorous training regimens are specifically structured to build endurance, resilience, and combat readiness in prospective soldiers, particularly given Nigeria's evolving security challenges.
However, the statement strongly emphasized that the demanding nature of military training does not equate to negligence or inadequate safety measures. "While training environments can be demanding and, in rare cases, result in dying or casualties, this does not imply negligence. On the contrary, robust safety measures, medical coverage and risk-mitigation procedures are firmly in place to ensure maximum protection of trainees and to minimise injuries," the Army clarified.
Warning Against Unverified Information Circulation
The Nigerian Army issued a caution to members of the public regarding the circulation of unverified information that could potentially mislead the public or damage the institution's reputation. "Members of the public are therefore urged to disregard the reports and avoid the spread of unverified information capable of misleading the public and damaging the image of the Nigerian Army," the statement advised.
The military institution reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining professionalism, transparency, and the welfare of all recruits undergoing training to serve the nation honorably.
Background: Gombe State's Earlier Announcement
This clarification from the Nigerian Army follows an earlier announcement made on Thursday by Ambassador Yusuf Danbayo, Gombe State's Senior Special Assistant on Security Matters. In that initial statement, Danbayo had announced that Nazifi had died during training at the Zaria Depot, describing him as "one of our promising recruits undergoing training at the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria." He had extended condolences to the family and people of Akko Local Government Area.
The conflicting narratives between state and federal military authorities have created a situation requiring clarification and potential investigation to establish the factual circumstances surrounding this reported incident.
